Electrically operated bell with internal power source

ABSTRACT

An electrically operated bell is provided with a bell-shaped resonant body and means for suspending the bell with its open end presented downwardly. A striker, a motor unit and means for supplying current to the motor unit are supported within the resonant body so that only the latter and the simulated clapper are normally visible.

United States Patent Inventor Edward Leslie Merritt Birmingham, England Appl. No. 843,151

Filed July 18, 1969 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 1 Assignee Evered and Company Limited Smethwick, Warley, England Priority July 20, 1968 Great Britain 34725/68 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BELL WITH INTERNAL POWER SOURCE 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 340/396 Int. Cl G08b 3/00, 610k 1/064 Field of Search 340/396,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 636,069 10/1899 Rousseau 340/396 874,024 12/1907 McElroy..... 340/396 2,817,080 12/1957 Balduman 340/402 X FOREIGN PATENTS 25,860 1884 Germany 340/396 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Richardson Attorney-John Harrow Leonard ABSTRACT: An electrically operated bell is provided with a bell-shaped resonant body and means for suspending the bell with its open end presented downwardly A striker, a motor unit and means for supplying current to the motor unit are supported within the resonant body so that only the latter and the simulated clapper are normally visible.

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 3,631,482 7 3 Shcctl-Shcat 1 e as a 2s 7 3e 2% b g 27 g 7 x V 7 Z fl E e 16 g 2@ E I ,1 a 5 v 2 *3 mi 2 17 g FIG 1 [NI/5070K.

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

- .ZNA/Z/YTQQ. M M051 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BELL WITH INTERNAL POWER SOURCE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrically operated bell is provided which comprises a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing, suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure whereby the bell can be suspended with an open end of the resonant body presented downwardly, and, disposed within the latter, an electrically operated motor unit, a striker movable by the motor unit for striking the resonant body and support means for supporting both the motor unit and a means for supplying the motor unit with electric power.

Preferably the motor unit comprises a solenoid and the striker comprises a soft iron plunger which is disposed partly within the solenoid and is arranged for striking the opposite side of the resonant body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical axial view of a bell according to the present invention, part thereof being shown in elevation for cleamess in illustration;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, showing a part of the support means in detached relation from the remainder of the bell, and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The bell comprises a resonant body 1 in the form of a hollow housing shaped as a bell and including a closed upper end 2, a downwardly divergent sidewall 3 and an outwardly flared flange 4 which defines a mouth 5 at the open lower end of the body.

Within the resonant body I there is an electrically energizable motor unit 8 supported by support means which includes a U-shaped stirrup 9. The motor unit comprises a solenoid 10 secured between the arms of the stirrup 9 with its longitudinal axis extending horizontally and through both of said arms. The solenoid is disposed asymmetrically relatively to a longitudinal axis 11 of the resonant body. Each of the arms of the stirrup 9 is provided with a circular aperture coaxial with the solenoid to permit movement of a striker means along the axis of the solenoid as hereinafter described.

The striker means is in the form of a soft iron plunger 12 provided at each of its ends with a structurally separate striker head 13. The plunger is slidably mounted within the solenoid 10 for movement axially thereof between two extreme positions, in each of which a respective one of the striker heads abuts the interior surface of the sidewall 3 of the resonant body. The plunger is biased to the left in FIG. 2 by spring means such that, while the solenoid 8 is deenergized and the plunger is at rest, the plunger is disposed asymmetrically relative to the solenoid with one of the striker heads slightly spaced from the sidewall of the resonant body. The solenoid is so positioned relative to the sidewall 3 that when the solenoid is energized, the plunger is attracted to the right in FIG. 2 with such force that it overcomes the force of the spring 14 sufficiently to cause the striker head 13 at the right-hand end of the plunger to strike the sidewall 3. If the solenoid remains energized continuously, the plunger 12 assumes an equilibrium position in which equal forces are exerted on it by the spring means and the solenoid respectively, and it comes to rest with the right-hand striker head 13 slightly spaced from the sidewall 3 of the resonant body. The spring means is in the form of a helical compression spring 14 engaged between one striker head and the adjacent end of the solenoid assembly.

The solenoid is supplied with electric power from a battery of electric cells 15 which is also supported within the resonant body, although it will be understood that other means, such as a transformer, of supplying electric power at a suitable voltage could be similarly supported.

The support means further includes a second U-shaped stirrup l6 and a battery case for supporting the battery. The battery case is formed in separate upper and lower parts 17 and 18 respectively. The upper part 17 includes a top wall, upper sidewalls and a central tongue 19 which, when the upper and lower parts are assembled together extends into the lower part. The lower part includes a bottom wall, lower sidewalls and a central socket 20 into which the tongue 19 fits when the upper and lower parts of the battery case are assembled.

The upper and lower parts 17 and 18 of the battery case are secured in assembled relation by a simulated clapper 21 which is detachably mounted on the upper part 17. The clapper includes an externally threaded stud 22 which projects centrally from an upper circular face 23 of the clapper. The stud 22 passes through a central aperture formed in the bottom wall of the battery case and engages an internally threaded socket 24 provided in the lower end of the tongue 19 when the upper and lower parts of the battery case are assembled. The upper face 23 of the clapper overlies the external face of the bottom wall of the battery case to secure the separate parts of the battery case in assembled relation.

When assembled with the battery case, the clapper 21 projects from the mouth 5 of the resonant body, and is therefore readily unscrewed from the socket 24 when it is desired to detach the lower part 18 of the battery case, for example when it is required to replace the batteries contained therein.

Contact members'37 are disposed within the lower part 18 of the battery case and overlying the inner face of the bottom wall thereof. These contact members pass between the socket 20 and the bottom wall of the battery case, thus being secured in their respective positions and serving to connect in series adjacent cells disposed one on either side of the socket. Further contact members 25 are disposed within the upper part 17 of the battery case, overlying the inner face of the upper wall. The contact members 25 for cells disposed on one side of the tongue 19 are separate from contact members 25 provided for cells disposed on the other side of the tongue. The upper contact members 25 are retained in respective positions adjacent to the upper wall of the battery case by the tongue 19.

The upper part 17 of the battery case is attached at its sidewalls to downwardly depending arms 26 of the stirrup 16. The stirrup 16 further includes a connecting portion 27 extending between the arms 26 and adjacent to the upper end 2 of the resonant body. The connecting portion 27, together with a corresponding connecting portion of the stirrup 9 is secured by a stud 28 to a mounting piece 29 which extends through a central aperture 6 provided in the closed end 2 of the resonant body. The mounting piece 29 includes an upper portion 296 disposed outside the resonant body and an internally threaded bush portion 29a which extends downwardly into the resonant body through the aperture 6, and within which a threaded portion of the stud 28 engages. The aperture 6 in the resonant body 1 is provided with a resilient rubber grommet 7. As the stud 28 is screwed into the bush portion 29a the grommet is clamped between an upper face of the connecting portion 27 of the stirrup 16 and a lower face of the portion 29a of the mounting piece. The grommet in turn grips the adjacent portions of the resonant body so that the resonant body is secured to the mounting piece through the intermediary of the resilient rubber grommet. This construction avoids undue dampening of vibrations of the resonant body.

The upper portion 29b of the mounting piece 29 is provided with suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure. The supporting structure comprises a hollow extruded bracket 30 of rectangular section and provided with apertures to accept screw means for fixing the bracket to a wall or other vertical surface. The bracket includes a downwardly extending, bifurcated end portion, the limbs 31 of which are formed with aligned horizontal apertures 32. The suspension means comprises an apertured lug 33 which fits between the limbs 31 and is attached thereto by a necked pin 34 extending through the lug and through the aligned apertures 32. The necked pin has a portion 35 centrally of its length which is of reduced diameter. When the pin is passed through the aligned apertures 32 and the aperture in the lug 33, the shoulders afforded by the junction of the reduced diameter portion 35 of the pin and the adjacent end portions prevent lateral withdrawal of the pin by abutment with the lug 33 adjacent to the aperture therein. Thus the weight of the bell serves to retain the pin 34 in position without the necessity of providing additional fastening elements.

The resonant body 1 is provided with a further aperture 36 in the closed end 2 and immediately behind the mounting piece 29. Electrical conductors for connection of the bell to a switch means may be threaded through the aperture 36 and the bore of the bracket 30 via the gap between the limbs 31 of the bifurcated portion of the bracket. A further aperture may be provided in the rearwardly presented face of the bracket to permit the electrical conductors to emerge therefrom adjacent to the wall or other structure to which the bracket may be attached. Alternatively the conductors may extend throughout the length of the bracket and emerge from the end which is remote from the mounting piece.

When the solenoid is energized the plunger 12 is attracted into the solenoid and overshoots beyond said equilibrium position so that one of the striker heads 13 strikes the resonant body 1. When the solenoid is deenergized the spring 14 urges the plunger in the opposite direction with sufficient force so that the other striker head strikes the resonant body. The plunger then comes to rest in the position shown in FIG. 2 with the left hand one of the striker heads spaced slightly from the sidewall 3 of the resonant body.

It will be understood that a make and break device may be included in the electric circuits so that the bell is sounded continuously while the switch means is closed. Alternatively the affect could be achieved by replacing the solenoid-operated plunger by a rotary striker driven by a rotary electric motor.

The bell as previously described affords a particularly pleasing appearance and since power supply unit and striker means are contained within the resonant body there is no need to provide any external or auxiliary casing to house the former. It will be appreciated that if such auxiliary casing were disposed adjacent to the bell proper this would appreciably detract from the aesthetic appearance thereof, while to position such auxiliary casing remotely from the bell would cause additional inconvenience and difficulties in installation.

I claim:

1. An electrically operated bell comprising:

a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing,

closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly toward the mouth,

b. an electrically energizable motor unit disposed within the resonant body,

c. a striker means disposed within the resonant body and movable by the motor unit for striking the resonant body,

d. support means disposed within the resonant body for supporting both the motor unit and a means for supplying the motor unit with electric power, said support means being provided with a mounting piece which extends therefrom through an aperture formed in said closed end of the resonant body and the resonant body being attached at its closed end to the mounting piece, and

e. suspension means provided on a portion of the mounting piece which is disposed at the exterior of the resonant body for suspending the bell from a supporting structure with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly.

2. An electrically operated bell comprising:

a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing,

closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly toward the mouth, b. an electrically energizable motor unit disposed within the resonant body,

c. a striker means disposed within the resonant body and movable by the motor unit for striking the resonant body,

d. support means for supporting both the motor unit and a means for supplying the motor unit with electric power, such support means including a battery case, and a portion of said support means including at least one wall of said battery case being secured to the remainder of the support means by a simulated clapper which is itself detachably mounted on the remainder of the support means, and

e. suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly.

3. An electrically operated bell comprising:

a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing,

closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly towards the mouth,

b. an electrically energizable motor unit disposed within the resonant body and comprising a solenoid,

c. a striker means comprising a plunger which is disposed partly within the solenoid and which is movable horizontally in one direction in response to energization of the solenoid to strike the resonant body at one side thereof,

d. biasing means for urging the plunger to move in the opposite direction to strike the resonant body at the opposite side thereof when the solenoid is deenergized, whereby each cycle of energization and deenergization of the solenoid causes a double strike of the resonant body,

e. support means for supporting within the resonant body both the motor unit and a means for supplying the motor unit with electric power, and

. suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly.

4. An electrically operated bell comprising:

a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing,

closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly towards the mouth,

b. suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure whereby the bell can be suspended with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly, and

c. supported within the resonant body:

i. an electrically energizable battery operated motor unit,

ii. a striker means movable by the motor unit for striking the resonant body,

iii. a holder for releasably holding an electric battery for energizing said motor unit.

5. The bell claimed in claim 4 wherein:

a. said holder is disposed within the resonant body at a position adjacent the mouth thereof, and

b. the motor unit is disposed at a position between the holder and the closed end of the resonant body.

6. The bell claimed in claim 5 wherein said holder comprises a battery case having a removable cover at its lower end for permitting the battery to be inserted upwardly through the mouth of the resonant body into the battery case.

7. The bell claimed in claim 5 wherein the battery case comprises a simulated clapper which projects from the mouth of the resonant body. 

1. An electrically operated bell comprising: a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing, closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly toward the mouth, b. an electrically energizable motor unit disposed within the resonant body, c. a striker means disposed within the resonant body and movable by the motor unit for striking the resonant body, d. support means disposed within the resonant body for supporting both the motor unit and a means for supplying the motor unit with electric power, said support means being provided with a mounting piece which extends therefrom through an aperture formed in said closed end of the resonant body and the resonant body being attached at its closed end to the mounting piece, and e. suspension means provided on a portion of the mounting piece which is disposed at the exterior of the resonant body for suspending the bell from a supporting structure with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly.
 2. An electrically operated bell comprising: a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing, closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly toward the mouth, b. an electrically energizable motor unit disposed within the resonant body, c. a striker means disposed within the resonant body and movable by the motor unit for striking the resonant body, d. support means for supporting both the motor unit and a means for supplying the motor unit with electric power, such support means including a battery case, and a portion of said support means including at least one wall of said battery case being secured to the remainder of the support means by a simulated clapper which is itself detachably mounted on the remainder of the support means, and e. suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly.
 3. An electrically operated bell comprising: a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing, closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly towards the mouth, b. an electrically energizable motor unit disposed within the resonant body and comprising a solenoid, c. a striker means comprising a plunger which is disposed partly within the solenoid and which is movable horizontally in one direction in response to energization of the solenoid to strike the resonant body at one side thereof, d. biasing means for urging the plunger to move in the opposite direction to strike the resonant body at the opposite side thereof when the solenoid is deenergized, whereby each cycle of energization and deenergization of the solenoid causes a double strike of the resonant body, e. support means for supporting within the resonant body both the motor unit and a means for supplying the motor unit with electric power, and f. suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly.
 4. An electrically operated bell comprising: a. a resonant body formed as a hollow bell-shaped housing, closed at one end, presenting an open mouth at the opposite end, and having a sidewall which extends from the closed end to the mouth and which diverges outwardly towards the mouth, b. suspension means for suspending the bell from a supporting structure whereby the bell can be suspended with the mouth of the resonant body presented downwardly, and c. supported within the resonant body: i. an electrically energizable battery operated motor unit, ii. a striker means movable by the motor unit for striking the resonant body, iii. a holder for releasably holding an electric battery for energizing said motor unit.
 5. The bell claimed in claim 4 wherein: a. said holder is disposed within the resonant body at a position adjacent the mouth thereof, and b. the motor unit is disposed at a position between the holder and the closed end of the resonant body.
 6. The bell claimed in claim 5 wherein said holder compriSes a battery case having a removable cover at its lower end for permitting the battery to be inserted upwardly through the mouth of the resonant body into the battery case.
 7. The bell claimed in claim 5 wherein the battery case comprises a simulated clapper which projects from the mouth of the resonant body. 